Nahant News

Get the scoop on living here.

Setting: A tiny peninsula off the coast of Massachusetts.
The roughly 1½-square-mile town lies 14 miles north of Boston
and connects to Lynn, Massachusetts, by a causeway. The monthly
average high temperature reaches 82 degrees in July and 37 in
January.

Attractions: The coastline offers numerous beaches,
including Long Beach, Short Beach, and Tudor Beach. Walking trails
with breathtaking views make East Point popular with residents and
visitors. The public library, built in 1895, has an inviting
reading room with coffered ceiling, fireplace, and wood-panel
walls. Boston's Logan Airport is a 20-minute drive away.

Drawbacks: You won't find a pharmacy or a gas station in
Nahant. On-street parking isn't allowed during winter storms. The
public school system only accommodates children through sixth
grade. Older students attend class four miles away, in Swampscott,
Massachusetts.

Housing: Recent homes on the market ranged from about
$300,000 to $5 million. Median house price in 2006 was $472,500.
Nahant has about 1,200 existing houses, and most stand on lots
10,000 square feet or smaller, according to real estate agent Gail
Guiney. The average price for a one- or two-bedroom condo is around
$250,000.

How you'd spend your free time: Picnicking on Short Beach at
twilight, racing 16-foot Town Class ("Townie") sailboats off Tudor
Wharf, curled up by the fire during winter storms, or strolling the
pine-covered outcroppings on Bailey's Hill to take in the Boston
skyline and ocean views.